Worst Major of 2009 - The U.S. Open 
This was a really close race my friends. Closest vote in the one year history of the Mashies. The U.S. Open at Bethpage won out because in the end nothing really went right, other than tee shots. Zing! For starters this was one of the most anticipated venues to return to for a major championship because the first one was fantastic. The big story through the first three days, however, was that they had barely gotten two rounds in thanks to biblical rains and this thing might take until the PGA Championship week to finish. By the end of three rounds two guys had separated themselves from the field and unfortunately it wasn't Tiger and Lefty, it was Barnes and Glover. Oh yeah, Ricky Barnes, owner of maybe the worst swing in professional golf and Lucas Glover, the most well read player on Tour. Watch out ratings, here we come! There were moments during the final round that it looked like Phil might capture the most unlikely U.S. Open of his numerous bids, and for a second David Duval was on the cusp of making us all believers again. In the end though Duval got a terrible break in a fairway bunker, Hunter Mahan hit the greatest shot of his life only to have it springboard off the pin and lead to bogey and Phil did what Phil does in the U.S. Open.
This was a really close race my friends. Closest vote in the one year history of the Mashies. The U.S. Open at Bethpage won out because in the end nothing really went right, other than tee shots. Zing! For starters this was one of the most anticipated venues to return to for a major championship because the first one was fantastic. The big story through the first three days, however, was that they had barely gotten two rounds in thanks to biblical rains and this thing might take until the PGA Championship week to finish. By the end of three rounds two guys had separated themselves from the field and unfortunately it wasn't Tiger and Lefty, it was Barnes and Glover. Oh yeah, Ricky Barnes, owner of maybe the worst swing in professional golf and Lucas Glover, the most well read player on Tour. Watch out ratings, here we come! There were moments during the final round that it looked like Phil might capture the most unlikely U.S. Open of his numerous bids, and for a second David Duval was on the cusp of making us all believers again. In the end though Duval got a terrible break in a fairway bunker, Hunter Mahan hit the greatest shot of his life only to have it springboard off the pin and lead to bogey and Phil did what Phil does in the U.S. Open. Best Major of 2009 - The British Open 
Odd to have the best major of the year be one that Tiger missed the cut but it happened. After the first round the fans of major championship golf gave Tom Watson a hand for shooting 65 and sharing the lead. This was great because odds were now Tom would make the cut and have a few seconds on Sunday as he walked up the 18th to get an ovation from the crowd for having played all four days despite fading into a distant finish. Then a miracle happened, Turnberry turned back the clock to 1977 and Tom Watson was leading coming into the 72nd hole. I have never heard or answered the question "can he do it?" so often in a three day stretch. Let's face it, the story was phenomenal and despite the fact that Tom basically fainted over the par putt on the last hole this was as compelling a major to watch as any I have seen. Stewart Cink's birdie at the 72nd hole is unlikely to ever get the credit it deserves, nor will his first major victory. Cink is an immensely talented player, to the point that his winning a major championship came as no surprise to fans of the game. His win, however, will be forever drowned out by the clamor for unthinkable history to be made and what almost was.
Odd to have the best major of the year be one that Tiger missed the cut but it happened. After the first round the fans of major championship golf gave Tom Watson a hand for shooting 65 and sharing the lead. This was great because odds were now Tom would make the cut and have a few seconds on Sunday as he walked up the 18th to get an ovation from the crowd for having played all four days despite fading into a distant finish. Then a miracle happened, Turnberry turned back the clock to 1977 and Tom Watson was leading coming into the 72nd hole. I have never heard or answered the question "can he do it?" so often in a three day stretch. Let's face it, the story was phenomenal and despite the fact that Tom basically fainted over the par putt on the last hole this was as compelling a major to watch as any I have seen. Stewart Cink's birdie at the 72nd hole is unlikely to ever get the credit it deserves, nor will his first major victory. Cink is an immensely talented player, to the point that his winning a major championship came as no surprise to fans of the game. His win, however, will be forever drowned out by the clamor for unthinkable history to be made and what almost was.
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